LOUDONVILLE — Visitors to this year’s Loudonville Free Street Fair will have a chance to step off the midway and into a gallery celebrating Ohio’s rural past.
The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum is hosting a silent auction of paintings by nationally recognized artist Robert Kroeger, known for his richly textured oil depictions of historic barns.
Kroeger’s work has been featured in books such as Historic Barns of Ohio and Round Barns of America, combining vibrant images with the stories of the families who built and maintained these landmarks.
Collectors across the country prize his paintings, with some selling for thousands of dollars. The works currently on display at the museum focus on barns from Ashland and Richland counties, including many from the Mohican area.
The silent auction will run throughout fair week, with bidding closing on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. Winners will be notified immediately after and can arrange for pickup or shipping.
All proceeds will benefit the museum and its mission to preserve and share local history.
Museum officials encourage fairgoers to take advantage of extended hours during the Loudonville Street Fair — the museum will be open 1:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday — and admission is free.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to take a break from the bustle of the fair, step into the museum, and enjoy a gallery of original works celebrating the barns that once dotted our countryside,” said Kenny Libben, museum curator.
In addition to the silent auction, the museum will host old-fashioned cider pressing and apple butter demonstrations on Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visitors can watch apples transformed into fresh cider using a hand-cranked press and see apple butter slowly cooked down over an open fire, just as it was in the 19th century. Free samples will be available, giving guests a taste of history.
The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum is located at 203 E Main Street in Loudonville. For more information the museum, visit www.crfmuseum.com or call 419 994-4050.
